Charles j



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

0. J. FENDEL.

SLED.

No. 429,265. Patented June 3,1890.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

O. J. PENDEL.

SLED.

No. 429,265. Patented June 3, 1890.

, WITNESSES: IIVI/5ALZOR M UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES J. FENDEL, OF BUTTE CITY, MONTANA.

SLED.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 429,265, dated June 3, 1890. Application filedDeoember 26,1889- Serial No. 335,062. (llo model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES J. FENDEL, a citizen of the United States, residing atButte City, in the coiinty of Silver Bow and State of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sleds; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to coasting or bob sleds, and more especially to that class of such inventions which are built to accommodate but one or two persons.

My object is to produce a sled which will be exceedingly strong and durable, and which can be readily guided by a person sitting upright upon the platform of the same without the necessity of contact between said persons feet and the ground, and a further object is to produce means whereby the speed of the sled can be readily and effectually governed by the rider.

with these ends in view my invention consists in the peculiar features of construction and combination of parts more fully described hereinafter, and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my complete device; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section; Fig. 3, a front elevation, the forward runner being cut off at 00 a; of Fig. 2; and Figs. 4., 5, and 6, detail views.

The platform of the sled consists of a piece of board A barely long enough to accommodate two persons, and preferably having a general outline similar to that of the figure 8, which shape has been found most convenient, as one person can sit upon the large part at the rear, and the reduced portion in the middle will allow his legs to be extended to the forward part of the sled to guide the same, while the forward enlarged part can be occupied by a second person. This platform is secured to the rear running-gear of the device by means of a bolster a, ex tending transversely across the rear enlarged portion and secured thereto by bolts 1), extending through a strip of metal 0, let into the upper surface of the platform, to lie flush therewith and being transverse thereto. The rear runners (l are made in the ordinary way, having curved forward ends, and they are connected to the bolster a by means of standards 6, to which they are secured by means of mortise-and tenon joints, said standards being similarly secured to the bolster at their upper ends. These standards are securely braced by the rods f, two in front and two behind the latter, which cross each other and are secured at their lower ends to the runners and at their upper ends to the standards. The runners are prevented from spreading by the arched cross-brace g, which connects the rear ends of the runners. The rod it extends across between the standards and the metallic facings i, which are extended to connect the forward ends of the runners by an arched brace i, as shown inv Fig. 1. The runners are still further strengthened from backward strain by the brace-rod j, extending through an eye or loop in the under side of the platform and secured at its lower ends to the runners.

The forward running-gear of my sled consists of a single runner B, which is pivoted by means of an upright shaft or pivot O. This shaft 0 has a reduced portion at at its upper end, which is journaled in a box D, secured to the under side of the forward enlarged portion of the sled-platform. Thelower end of theshaft or pivot is also provided with a reduced portion a, and also beyond this with a squared end 0, which is arranged to fit a corresponding squared aperture 0' in the runner, to cause the latter to turn with the pivot, a square washer 1) being inserted between the lower shoulder and the runner-surface to prevent splitting of the runner when it is turned. A linchpin q secures the lower end of the standard or shaft in the runner.

A depending bracket E is secured at its upper ends to the under surface of the platform on either side of the journal-box D, and at its lower end is formed into a stationary washer or ring 1, which fits over the lower re duced portion of the shaft, and in which the latter turns; hence, besides bracing the structure, this member E serves as a bearing for the lower end of the shaft and supports the same in position. Above the ring 0" a washer s is introduced, and below it the forward end of the brace F is interposed. This brace or hound F consists of a forked piece of strap metal, the diverging arms u of which are secured to the bolster a, while its forward end is made in the form of a washer, and, as previously stated, is inserted on the lower reduced portion of the upright shaft between the ring 0' of the bracket E and the washer p in the runner. Thus it will be seen that this brace F performs the same oilice as the hound of a vehicle. The runner is further strengthcned by a brace-rod t, secured to it at its lower end and at its upper end to the shaft 0.

The single runner 15 is arranged to be turned, and the sled thereby guided by the use of the feet of the rear rider, and a bracket G is provided for this purpose, which consists of a piece of strap metal bent to form suitable foot-rests or stirrups r, and securely fastened at its center to the forward part of the runner B.

In order that the sled may readily respond to pressure of the steerers feet, I provide the forward runner with an angular metallic facing to, which, having a sharp edge, will take hold of the hard frozen surface and cause the sled to turn in whatever direction desired. I also provide my device with a mechanism for braking the same to slacken speed or stop altogether, and I will now describe the arrangement of parts for accomplishing this purpose.

The forward runner B is curved upwardly in the ordinary manner at its forward end, and through this curved portion at about its middle extends transversely a short rockshaft or pin a", on the opposite ends of which are rigidly fastened at their centers the arms or levers 3 These arms consist of short pieces of strap metal having eyelets or perforations z in their opposite ends, and, both being keyed to the rock-shaft, they will act in unison. In the lower eyelet of each of the levers 2 is fastened one end of a cord 2, preferably of metal, and these cords extend to the rear on either side of the shaft 0, between the latter and the opposite arms of the bracket E, thence between the diverging arms of the brace F and over small rollers 3, secured to the under side of the bolster a. The cords 2 then extend downward, and are fastened, respectively, in eyelets in the forward ends of brake shoes or hooks l, which are pivoted on bolts 5, extending transversely through the rear ends of the back runners, said brake-shoes bearing against the adjacent surfaces of the runners and having sharpened downwardlyextending points 6 at their rear ends. The draft-lines 7 are secured in the upper eyelets of the levers y, and are of suitieient length to extend to the rear of the sled.

The preferred manner of constructing my device having been set forth, I will now procoed to describe its operation. The riders sit upon the platform one behind the other, the rear rider extending his legs until his feet bear upon the sti rrups of the bracket G, when by pressing on either side the single runner will be turned and the sled steered at will. The brake mechanism may be manipulated by either rider bymeans of the draft-lines. \Vhen it is desired to slacken speed or stop the sled, the rider pulls upon the draft-lines, which will cause the lower ends of the levers y to be thrown forward, thereby tightening the cords 2, which, being secured to the forward ends of the brake-shoes 4, raise the latter, and consequently force the sharpened points 6 into the surface of the hill and cause the sled to slacken speed, and, if the strainis continued on the lines, to stop altogether. Upon loosening the lines it will readily be seen that the hooks will free themselves, and when the sled is being dragged along by the draft-lines the lower end of the levers will be thrown back and uncalled-for action of the brake rendered impossible.

Among the advantages of my construction might be stated the ease with which the sled can be steered by a person sitting in a comfortable position on the platform and the safety from collision insured by the arrangement of brakes operated by the draft-lines.

It is evident that many slight changes which might suggest themselves to a skilled mechanic could. be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention; hence I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein shown.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a sled, the combination of the platform, the forward running-gear, a vertical shaft journaled in suitable bearings beneath said platform and rigidly connected to said forward running-gear, and a bracket secured beneath said platform, depending therefrom and supporting said shaft, and forming a bearing in which the latter turns, substantially as described.

2. In a sled,the combination of a platform, an upright shaft journaled therein, and a brace or hound loosely placed on said shaft and rigidly secured beneath the rear end of said platform, substantially described.

3. In a sled, a platform having a journalbox, a runner, an upright shaft journaled at its upper end in said box and secured at its lower end .to turn with the runner, a bracket secured to the platform supporting said shaft and constituting a bearin g therefor, and a brace loosely placed on the lower end of said shaft and secured to the rear part of the sled, substantially as described.

I. In a sled, the combination of the draft lines, levers to the ends of which said lines are connected, connections attached to the opposite ends of said levers, suitable bearings beneath the platform, over which said connections run, and brake-shoes pivoted to the rear running-gear, to which the rear ends of said connections are secured, substantially In testimony whereof I afiix my signature to as and for the purpose described. in presence of two Witnesses.

5. In a sled, the combination of draft-lines, levers keyed on a rock-shaft operating in CHARLES J. FENDEL.

the forward runner, brake-shoes on the rear runners, and suitable connections between WVitnesses:

said levers and said brake-shoes, whereby the HERMANN SOHIMELPHENNIG, latter operate to retard the sled, substantially JOHN TENNER.

as described. 

